Make Society Your University

You have to get involved, get your hands dirty, and build connections with other people, rather than just learning from books or professors.

Education is free. Endless knowledge is right at your fingertips; the only obstacle in your way is yourself. Imagine if you could absorb every book, every chart, and every sentence—would “I don’t know” still stand between you and success?

You don’t need natural talent. With determination and hard work, you can become an expert in any field.

The best investment you can make is in yourself. So be willing to spend money on your education, or you’ll eventually pay a much higher price for lacking it. The choices you make today will determine your financial future. Make sure you choose wisely, because you’ll be the one living with the consequences.

There’s always time if you look for it. Take a close look at the repetitive activities you already do, and you’ll find opportunities like these:

· “Driving” University: Listen to audiobooks or financial news while stuck in traffic, turning wasted time on the road into education.
· “Exercise” University: When you’re at the gym, read books or magazines, or watch podcast videos. During rest periods, on the treadmill, or on a stationary bike, you can turn physical exercise into learning.
· “Waiting” University: If you know you’ll have a long, painful wait ahead, bring something to read. Think airports, hospitals, and the DMV. Stop just sitting there—learn!
· “Bathroom” University: Never waste those moments on the toilet. Read something educational and put that daily “sitting time” to learning new things. The bathroom is the best place to change your “oil,” because this time happens every day and can’t be avoided. That means the return on your time investment is infinite! Turn bathroom time into education.
· “Work” University: If you can, squeeze in some reading during breaks at work. I’ve had some pretty dull jobs—driving a luxury sedan as a chauffeur, delivering pizzas—and I made good use of all that “waiting time.” While waiting for customers, delivering pizzas, and ordering flowers, I was reading. I never bored myself with pocket poker. If you can make use of those unproductive moments at work, you’ll come out ahead. Turn boring jobs into education.
· TV University: Can’t quit watching TV? No problem. Place your TV near your workstation and watch it while you do your own planning.

Pick a topic that interests you, or an area of your life that needs improvement. Bad at marketing or writing? Go read about it.
Set a goal to read at least twelve books a year—one a month. The more knowledge you gain, the greater the leverage you’ll have over your wealth.